About Grand Prairie Parks & Rec

Celebrating over 50 years of existence, the Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to “creating a GRAND lifestyle”. The Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation department features world class parks and facilities, a wide-array of exciting program opportunities, and numerous special events throughout the year.

The City of Grand Prairie has over 5,000 park acres, including the exciting 3,000 acres surrounding Joe Pool Lake. The staff is proud to be the caretakers for the citizens of Grand Prairie and welcomes comments about the Parks system or recreation offerings of the city.

Dedicated to providing “world class service” the department was nominated by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) as a finalist to the National Gold Medal Award, one of only 4 in America, in 2007 and 2008, 2016 and 2017, and won the the Gold Medal in 2008.

Awards are no stranger to the department, for it has racked up honors for Park Development, Maintenance Innovations and Recreation programming over the past few years.

The parks and recreation re-birth in Grand Prairie began in 1999 with the passage of the ¼ cent sales tax for parks and recreation by the Citizens of Grand Prairie. With dynamic city leaders, trusting citizens, awesome partners and a dynamic staff, the Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation system is destined to be one of the finest in America.

Enjoy your parks. Play golf at your two golf courses. Enjoy some exciting recreation programs. Visit the exciting Ruthe Jackson Conference Center. Boat, swim or camp at Joe Pool Lake. Play a round at two award-winning golf courses. Work out at the Tony Shotwell Life Center, or the newly renovated Dalworth Recreation Center. Go for a jog on our trails. Take your dog to play at Central Bark. Re-invent at The Summit, America’s first baby-boomer facility. The department even offers the Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum for that special time of need.

The latest additions to your parks and recreation department will be Epic Waters (opening November 2017), The Epic (opening January 2018), and PlayGrand Adventures all-inclusive playground (opening Summer 2018)!

Come visit YOUR parks and recreation department…together we are building a GRAND lifestyle!

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Event Details

Prairie Lights takes you on a two-mile drive featuring four million lights that drew 230,000 visitors in 2016 and will be better than ever in 2017 with new custom displays

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Event Details

Prairie Lights takes you on a two-mile drive featuring four million lights that drew 230,000 visitors in 2016 and will be better than ever in 2017 with new custom displays and brand-new attractions! Josh Barnett Productions, Inc. of Bakersfield, California, will deliver a new and exciting park that will have audiences smiling in delight with clever new themes like “Pirate Christmas”, “Santa’s Mailroom”, “Winter Woods”, and others. Mid-way through the drive, stop at Holiday Village for concessions, carousel rides, a gift shop and photos with Santa. Inside Holiday Village, see the brand-new Snow Maze. This whimsical world of a snowman wonderland that takes you through a playful labyrinth of twists and turns and will have you smiling and laughing as you try to find your way out! And, take a stroll through the Holiday Magic Walk-Through Forest with even more displays and illuminated trees. The walk-through is the perfect spot to take photos and see the lights up close. Then, finish the drive through the park with the always-popular animated tunnel of lights!

Want to beat the long lines? Visit PrairieLights.org to learn more about our brand-new Fast Pass!

Times:

Sunday – Thursday (non-holidays): 6-9pm
Friday, Saturday & Holidays: 6-10pm*Cars must be in line by closing times to guarantee admission